Ancient Jars Likely Used for Perfume, Oil, and Wine Discovered in Greece

A recent discovery in Greece has uncovered a collection of ancient jars believed to have been used for transporting goods such as perfume, oil, and wine.

According to a study published on January 7 in Antiquity, the jars were found at Pefkakia, an archaeological site located approximately 200 miles northwest of Athens. The site is considered a significant port during the Late Bronze Age, which lasted from 1600 to 1050 B.C.

Among the jars found were stirrup jars, recognizable for their wide tops and narrow bottoms, as shown in photos published in the study. Archaeologists unearthed these jars in various sizes, with the smaller ones likely serving as perfume containers. The larger ones—transport stirrup jars (TSJs)—were probably used to carry wine or oil.

“While the smaller variety is widely distributed across the Aegean (and beyond), large TSJs appear in substantial quantities at only a few specific sites,” the researchers noted. Based on their analysis, most of these jars were likely produced in Crete, the largest Greek island, about 400 miles southeast of Pefkakia, though some jars were traced back to mainland Greece.

The team also discovered two Canaanite jars at the site. These jars, which have a slim body, narrow base, and two handles, were a popular type of transport vessel. They were likely made in the Levant, encompassing modern-day Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. One of the jars bore an incised mark on the handle, suggesting Cypriot traders were involved in their circulation. This jar is believed to date back to the 14th century B.C. and is among the earliest marked Canaanite jars found in the Aegean.

The significant number of TSJs found at Pefkakia indicates that the site was likely one of the main harbours in the Aegean during the Late Bronze Age. Bartłomiej Lis and Anthi Batziou conducted the research.